Surprising Things We Don't Have to Do for Personal Progress Anymore + More Changes Over the Years

1985—New Personal Progress Manual Introduced

With a new program and a new manual, the Church released the Personal Progress many of us are familiar with today. Instead of Beehive bandelos and emblems, young women who completed the Personal Progress program were rewarded with a young womanhood medallion.

According to lds.org, some of the new and improved requirements in the 1985 Personal Progress included:

• Choose a friend to be your partner, and read two missionary pamphlets. Teach another friend or relative what you have learned.

• Write a thank-you letter to your parents.

• Write a personal code of honesty, including five ways you will live an honest life.

• Participate in a physical fitness activity for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week for three weeks.

While simple design changes introduced different versions of the 1985 Personal Progress manual and medallions, the next big change didn't occur until 2009, when Church leaders added a new Young Women value.